Title

Author

Date of Award

4-21-1983

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Arts

Department

Political Science

First Advisor

Dr. John W. Outland

Abstract

Colleges and universities regularly award scholarships to outstanding young athletes. The standard financial aid agreement between the institution and the athlete is that in return for the athlete's active participation in the particular sport, he or she receives free tuition, room, board and books.

In addition to the education and athletic involvements, the giving of financial aid has numerous implications on the relationship between the college or university and the athlete. Foremost among those implications is the potential legal entanglement under the law of workmen's compensation.

The major questions which are in front of the courts today in conjunction with such legal entanglements are: 1) whether scholarship athletes are employees of the institution; 2) whether an athletic grant-in-aid upon athletic ability and participation, creates an employment relationship; and 3) whether an injured scholarship athlete is entitled to receive benefits under the various states' workmen's compensation acts.